Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives responded to these oil pipeline accidents – by passing legislation authorizing the construction of yet another oil pipeline. If passed by the Senate, H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act, would enable a pipeline to snake down from Canada into the United States, threatening a huge range of America’s sensitive ecosystems along the way. The pipeline would run through the Ogllala Aquifer, endangering a huge supply of clean water. What’s more, the oil would come from Alberta’s tar sands, which yield commercially usable oil only through an extremely expensive and inefficient process that creates a massive amount of pollution.

The legislation passed, 279 to 147. Only three Republicans voted against creating the new pipeline risk: Charles Bass, Jeff Fortenberry, and Nan Hayworth. Most Democrats voted against the pipeline, but 47 Democrats crossed party lines to help the Republicans with the reckless scheme. The Democrats who voted for the Oglalla Aquifer pipeline were: